In a recent report, The Metro has claimed that Aston Villa are looking to move in for Arsenal playmaker Emile Smith Rowe whose current deal at the Emirates Stadium runs out in the summer of 2023. It has been revealed that the Villans have appeared as strong contenders to acquire the English attacker’s services as they look to take advantage of the player’s prolonged contract talks with the Gunners (via The Metro).
Smith Rowe’s Campaign Of Mixed Emotions
Smith Rowe has already established himself as an important member of Mikel Arteta’s squad and managed to catch the eye for the North London outfit at times during the 2020-21 campaign. The 20-year-old has banged in seven goals and grabbed seven assists in 45 senior appearances for Arsenal thus far.
The London-born sensation has struggled to be productive with his offensive contributions after averaging 0.7 shots, 1.2 key passes and 0.8 dribbles per game in the Premier League and the UEFA Europa League. However, he distributed possession accurately in the opponent’s half as he completed 87.8% of his attempted passes in both those competitions (stats via whoscored).
Smith Rowe is only going to get better with each season, so he could be a massive coup for the Villans if they can find a way to get a deal over the line for him during this summer transfer period. Dean Smith could be the ideal man to oversee the English youngster’s development as he has done the same in the recent past with Jack Grealish and Ollie Watkins who have both turned out to be two of the most important members of his squad.
Will Landing Smith Rowe Be A Wise Move For The Villans?
Smith Rowe is blessed with decent pace and can be an exciting dribbler with the ball at his feet. He is proficient at setting up some inviting opportunities for his teammates in the final third. The English whizkid can also generate a yard of space for himself to get a few shots in at goal.
However, the Arsenal prospect is still quite raw and would need more time to get accustomed to performing consistently in Premier League football. The Villans need to add more firepower to their squad if they are serious about making a push for one of the top six spots in the English top-flight next season. Smith Rowe fits the bill perfectly as he is a young, fearless and talented playmaker who won’t mind working hard to help his teammates out at the back when needed.
Smith Rowe’s strengths compliment Dean Smith’s playing style quite well. Hence, the West Midlands giants would be wise to make a move to bring the Arsenal attacker to Villa Park when the transfer window reopens later this month.
